Germany 'ready to accept fine' for wearing rainbow armband at World Cup in Qatar

Germany is “fully prepared to accept a fine” for allowing its players to wear rainbow armbands at the Qatar World Cup, the association chief said on Friday, Bernd Neuendorf.

The 'One Love' diversity campaign for LGBTQ+ rights was launched in September amid concerns over human rights in Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal.

Part of this movement involves a number of captains wearing a distinctive rainbow heart armband at the tournament to raise awareness of discrimination.

This breaches FIFA regulations, which prohibit teams from choosing their own armband designs at the World Cup, although nations such as England have suggested they will defy these rules.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written a letter to the 32 teams that will participate in the World Cup, encouraging them to focus on football.

Neuendorf insists that the German Football Association (DFB) would risk such a sanction from FIFA, indicating that there will be no backing down.

“I am completely prepared to accept a fine,” Neuendorf told reporters. "This is not a political statement, but a statement for human rights."